Date of visit was November 2003, think it always helps to mention dates as some other reviews good or bad might have come before or after some renovation work or change of ownership etc. They've had a while to do something about our experience. There is quite a few negative coments but may be some light at the end of the tunnel so read on past the negs for an overall view.
Location of the hotel is good, right near Maddison Square Gardens. We booked for three nights as part of our 21st birthday present to one another, this was our second visit to NYC after getting engaged the year before (see review of Roosevelt Hotel). Price was good for time of year though this was in comparison to Christmas week the year before.
Upon arriving, believing we'd booked a room as shown on the website (which turns out to be a 'premier club' or something accomodation) we were pointed in the direction of our room where we found a grotty bedsit like arrangement where no furniture matched and pillow cases were grey, not white. Marks on walls and a strong smell and discolouration of the ceiling caused by smoke. The second and third room we tried was no better, one even had wallpaper hanging from the corner as a result of what appeared to be damp. We contacted reception along with another couple with whom we met on our 3 previous vain attempts to find a room and decided to add weight to our argument regarding the standards of the rooms so far by complaining together. Independently we'd both mentioned how the rooms offered so far were nothing like those advertised on the internet and when we were confronted by the duty manager we were informed that he was only willing to upgrade one couple to the better standard room (the one advertised a standard). Both couples eventually got an upgrade free of charge without first having to argue the toss over whether we should be charged for it.
The lobby is large and appeared clean. The lifts and lower floors grim and dull. You had a feeling that how could people on other floors be satisfied with what they had paid.
The 4th and final room was just fine, like the rooms as standard at the Roosevelt. Clean, modern and very tidy and a pleasure to return to each evening. Clean bathroom, large tv with satillite with the option to plug in a laptop to the net for work purposes.
On the plus side, your in NYC, one of the best cities in the world and there is more to a trip there than the hotel room you stay in, we didn't make any more use of the facilities other than sleeping, showering and changing clothes. General staff were friendly and the doormen impressively polite and competant. We ate in the diner next to the lobby which was an authentic american dinner. Overall I would not reccomend this hotel unless you are prepared to take your own sheets, I'm not a whinger normally but you pay good money for a hotel with a good reputation (which seems still to hanker on the Glenn Miller song) that could do so so much better.
Cost wise it would be unfair for me to comment, the first time I went to NYC I paid £1,500 for two nights leaving on the 21st December (staying at Roosevelt), obviously the price for the flight and accomodation was hiked due to Christmas, the second visit at the Pennsylvannia was half the price but we got another day.
The website for the Hotel Pennsylvannia is http://www.hotelpenn.com/ and offers a interactive walk round and the Roosevelt can be checked out at http://www.hotelrooseveltnewyork.com, both sites offer an online availability checker and the option to book online.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Location. The Hotel Pennsylvania is located in New York, N.Y. Across the street from ... more
Madison Square Garden Across the street from Penn Station One block from Macy's department store Three blocks from the Empire State Building Hotel Fea...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Sep 22nd, 2005
(Oct 5th, 2005)
very helpful by (38%):
helpful by (62%):
